Top 10 Craziest Things That Have Happened Since Tiger King Was Released
#10: Jeff Lowe Continues to Be a Zoo Tycoon… For Now
#10: Jeff Lowe Continues to Be a Zoo Tycoon… For Now After claiming Joe Exotic’s zoo as his own, Jeff Lowe began the development of an ambitious new park with Tim Stark of Indiana’s Wildlife in Need. Sure enough, before the end of the documentary series, Lowe and Stark had a falling out and Stark abandoned the project. “Tiger King” left us with the impression that Lowe was teetering on the brink of financial ruin. But, for the time being, it appears that Lowe continues to operate Greater Wynnewood Exotic Animal Park and intends to open his Oklahoma Zoo as soon as possible. That said, sources claim that GW, while operational, is in a sorry state. Plus, according to KTNV news, Lowe is still wanted for his crimes in Las Vegas.
#9: John Finlay's Teeth
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#9: John Finlay's Teeth The first of Joe Exotic’s husbands that we meet, John Finlay is among the more likeable and sympathetic figures in “Tiger King”. Finlay is a real character, and his teeth are right up there with his various Joe Exotic tattoos as being his most notable physical features. Well, good news for all you Finlay fans out there! It’s been revealed that Finlay has since gotten extensive dental work done and is now in possession of a shiny new set of chompers. In a Facebook post, Finlay claims that the filmmakers had footage of him with his new teeth but opted not to use it.
#8: Shaquille O'Neal Unfriends Joe Exotic
#8: Shaquille O'Neal Unfriends Joe Exotic “Tiger King” introduces us to many larger-than-life individuals. But the biggest name is that of basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal. Following the release of the series, O’Neal has gone on record saying that he is “not friends” with Joe Exotic” and that he "no idea any of that stuff was going on." He acknowledges having visited the zoo multiple times, but claims to have not had any business dealings with Exotic. Be that as it may, it’s no secret that O’Neal is a fan of big cats; according to Fox Sports, he’s owned two tigers that live on a farm in Florida. Furthermore, Shaq’s comment about getting “two more tigers” suggests there have been others.
#7: Cardi B Supports Joe Exotic
#7: Cardi B Supports Joe Exotic Shaq might be anxious to distance himself from the zoo-keeper turned felon, but not all celebrities share his opinion. Rapper Cardi B is one of Joe Exotic’s most vocal defenders, tweeting “Bout to start a gofundme account for Joe .He shall be free.” She later followed it up with "I stan him...Leave me alone." It’s no secret that Joe Exotic has always seen himself as a rockstar - the series dedicates a substantial amount of screentime to his obvious quest for stardom and recognition. We can only imagine that he’s thrilled to have such high profile fans now that the documentary has come out - even if he can only enjoy his newfound celebrity status from behind bars.
#6: Tim Stark's Legal Woes
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#6: Tim Stark's Legal Woes Tim Stark ultimately backed out of opening a zoo with Jeff Lowe due to concerns that the latter wasn’t holding up his half of the bargain. It seemed like Stark had dodged a bullet, but trouble soon followed him back home to Indiana. In “Tiger King”, when asked if he thought other private zoo owners would be caught up in the wake of Joe’s legal trouble, he seemed confident that he was safe. Flash forward to early 2020, however, and Stark’s personal animal kingdom, “Wildlife in Need”, has been slapped with multiple lawsuits and hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines. Adding insult to injury, Jeff Lowe has bragged about his contribution in “helping the feds take down monsters like Joe Exotic and Tim Stark.”
#5: Police Are Asking for Leads in the Disappearance of Don Lewis
#5: Police Are Asking for Leads in the Disappearance of Don Lewis As co-directors Eric Goode and Rebecca Chaiklin explained to Rolling Stone, the angle of the series was ever evolving as the story came together. When Carole Baskin’s story came to their attention, they dug deep and tried to find the truth about the disappearance of her ex husband, Don Lewis - but to no avail. Because of the renewed attention that the case has received following the release of the series, however, that could change. Disappearances from over 20 years ago rarely get solved, but Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister has embraced this as an opportunity to ask people to come forward with relevant information. He’s reportedly since been receiving about six new tips per day.
#4: Doc Antle Has Come Out Against “Tiger King”
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#4: Doc Antle Has Come Out Against “Tiger King” Doc Antle is described by Joe Exotic as something of a mentor. And while his experience in the movie industry and sleeker looking zoo does make him seem more legitimate than Joe, episode two of the series, “Cult of Personality” paints him in a rather unfavorable light. Before the end of the series, it was suggested that Doc Antle might be euthanizing cubs when they’re too old for meet and greets. The high-profile trainer has since voiced his displeasure with “Tiger King” saying he was “very disappointed” with how he was portrayed. He’s attempted to discredit the series as “sensationalist entertainment”. Antle and his staff ended this now deleted Instagram post by inviting people to come judge their Myrtle Beach facility for themselves.
#3: A Scripted Series Is in the Works
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#3: A Scripted Series Is in the Works Had this been a work of fiction, people likely would’ve scoffed at the absurdity of the narrative. But as “Tiger King” reminds us, reality is often stranger than fiction. Now the tale of Joe Exotic and Carole Baskin is being adapted as a scripted mini-series, inspired not by the Netflix docuseries, but rather Robert Moor’s “Joe Exotic: Tiger King” podcast. Saturday Night Live’s Kate MacKinnon serves as executive producer and is set to play Baskin. And while she’s the only confirmed cast member to date, there’s supposedly a long list of celebs who want in. Jared Leto, Edward Norton and Dax Shepard all seem to be vying for the role of Joe Exotic. As for Moor, his personal choice for Joe is Margot Robbie.
#2: Joe Sues the Federal Government & Jeff Lowe
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A 22 year sentence to prison - especially at the age of 57 - is enough to kill even the strongest of spirits. But hey… Joe Exotic isn’t most people. So rather than resign himself to life behind bars, he’s fighting back by suing everyone he feels has wronged him. According to Rolling Stone, his lawsuit alleges that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service targeted him and his fellow big cat breeders. He also blames them for contributing to the death of his mother, among many other wrongdoings. Altogether, he’s demanding $94 million from the Federal government. As for Jeff Lowe specifically, Joe accuses him of filing false statements, switching his meds and stealing his property.
#1: Carole Baskin Has Come Out Against “Tiger King”
Both Joe Exotic and Jeff Lowe seem pleased with the success of “Tiger King”, regardless of how they were portrayed. Carole Baskin however, is not of the same opinion. She’s come out swinging against the docuseries, labelling the Netflix original “salacious and sensational”. Naturally, she’s also reiterated that she had no involvement in the disappearance of her husband. She further claims that the filmmakers misled her, pitching it to her as a "big cat version of Blackfish", the influential documentary about captive orcas. Her current husband, Howard Baskin, has made similar statements. In response, the filmmakers have asserted that Baskin was in no way coerced, and that the wide range of subjects she addresses on camera speak to that fact.
